A controller for a vehicle is configured to determine image data from a camera of the vehicle which indicates an environment of the vehicle starting from a reference point. The controller further detects at least one camera object in the environment of the vehicle based on the image data. The controller is also configured to determine sensor data from a distance-sensing environment sensor of the vehicle. The camera object can be shifted to a plurality of different distances from the reference point. A corresponding plurality of values of a degree of overlap between the camera object and the sensor data can be determined for the plurality of different distances. The controller is also configured to determine an object distance between the camera object and the reference point based on the plurality of values of the degree of overlap.